EAIC unable to determine existence of ‘police cartel'

EAIC chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) is unable to determine allegations that there is a “cartel” within the police force as claimed by former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador before his retirement.

In a statement on Tuesday (Feb 22), EAIC chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said they had concluded their investigations into the issue raised by Abdul Hamid on March 18 and March 22 last year.

“Based on witness testimonies and documents obtained by EAIC, we cannot confirm the existence of a cartel within the police force as alleged by Abdul Hamid.

“The EAIC investigation found there were officers involved in criminal syndicate activities following investigations conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police.

“However, Abdul Hamid’s claim that the officers were able to arrange positions in the force to control it for personal gain could not be verified,” he said.

He added the claims could not be verified because appointments, promotions and the transfer mechanism practised by police and the Police Force Commission (PFC) involves a thorough process and has several layers that are difficult to penetrate and manipulated by outsiders.

“The IGP is a permanent member of the PFC and any proposed appointment, promotion and change of police staffing to the PFC must be approved by the IGP.

“Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador’s position as IGP cannot be challenged because the appointment of IGP is based on the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, on the advice of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Sidek said the commission’s findings have been submitted to the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

On March 23 last year, Abdul Hamid claimed there was a “cartel” within the police force plotting to tarnish his image and topple him.

In May, Abdul Hamid was replaced by Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, who said the matter was being probed by the EAIC.